Food processing apparatus, transport mechanism, bucket and method

Abstract

A lift bucket, food product transport mechanism, food product processor and method of processing food product while providing improved dewatering. The processor is equipped with a lift that includes at least one bucket of latticework construction that preferably is made of wedgewire. The bucket has a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and interlocking wires that define dewatering perforations. In one preferred embodiment, wires defining dewatering slots are supported by wire retainers. In a preferred embodiment, each dewatering slot preferably has a width of at least 0.02 inches and no greater than about 0.13 inches. Each wire retainer can be equipped with a knife edge that minimizes dewatering flow obstruction through the slots. In a preferred method, an auger food product transport mechanism equipped with a lift bucket of the invention is rotated at a speed of at least 5 RPM.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A food product processing apparatus having an inlet and a discharge comprising: 
       a food product processing chamber receiving a plurality of food products through the inlet;  
       a liquid disposed in the chamber;  
       a food product transport mechanism for moving the food products along the chamber;  
       a perforate lift comprised of wedgewire carried by the food product transport mechanism that transports at least one of the food products toward the discharge wherein the wedgewire has a non-uniform, non-circular cross-section.  
     
     
       2. A food product processing apparatus having an inlet and a discharge comprising: 
       a food product processing chamber receiving a plurality of food products through the inlet;  
       a liquid disposed in the chamber;  
       a food product transport mechanism for moving the food products along the chamber;  
       a perforate lift comprised of wedgewire carried by the food product transport mechanism that transports at least one of the food products toward the discharge, wherein the lift comprises a plurality of pairs of spaced apart wires defining a plurality of pairs of dewatering perforations and a plurality of pairs of wire clips that engage the wires.  
     
     
       3. The food product processing apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein a plurality of the wires have a generally triangular or frustoconical cross-section. 
     
     
       4. The food product processing apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein each one of the plurality of the wires has a food product supporting surface that is disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of one of the wire clips. 
     
     
       5. The food product processing apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein a plurality of the wires have a notch and a plurality of the wire clips further comprise an engagement head that is received in one of the notches to engage the wire clips to the wires. 
     
     
       6. The food product processing apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the engagement head comprises a knife edge that is received in the notch of each one of the plurality of wires. 
     
     
       7. The food product processing apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the plurality of the wire clips is welded to the plurality of wires. 
     
     
       8. A food product processing apparatus having a discharge and comprising a processing chamber in which a food product being processed is disposed, and a food product transport mechanism that urges the food product toward the discharge with the food product transport mechanism having a lift that is comprised of perforate latticework, wherein the food product transport mechanism comprises an auger and the lift comprises a plurality of spaced apart wedgewire lift buckets carried by the auger. 
     
     
       9. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the processing chamber holds a liquid processing medium therein and the perforate latticework comprises a plurality of pairs of interconnected wires. 
     
     
       10. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the plurality of pairs of interconnected wires comprises a plurality of pairs of spaced apart slats that are attached to a plurality of pairs of spaced apart tie beams. 
     
     
       11. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the plurality of pairs of slats are parallel and oriented in one direction and the plurality of pairs of tie beams are parallel and oriented in another direction. 
     
     
       12. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the plurality of pairs of spaced apart slats are oriented generally perpendicular to the plurality of pairs of tie beams. 
     
     
       13. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein each wedgewire lift bucket further comprises a flange projecting outwardly from one edge that has an inclined segment forming a wing. 
     
     
       14. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the flange is comprised of wedgewire. 
     
     
       15. A food product processing apparatus having an inlet and a discharge and that processes a plurality of food products comprising: 
       a tank;  
       a cover that overlies the tank and defines a food product processing chamber therebetween;  
       a liquid heat transfer medium disposed in the tank that contacts the plurality of food products to change the temperature of the plurality of food products;  
       a helical auger disposed in the tank that is rotated to urge the plurality of food products toward the discharge;  
       a plurality of pairs of spaced apart perforate wedgewire lift buckets carried by the auger for rotation in unison therewith that pick up food products and expel them out the discharge wherein the wedgewire has a non-uniform, non-circular cross-section.  
     
     
       16. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the liquid heat transfer medium comprises water and food products enter and exit the processing chamber in a continuous flow process. 
     
     
       17. A food product processing apparatus having an inlet and a discharge and that processes a plurality of food products comprising: 
       a tank;  
       a cover that overlies the tank and defines a food product processing chamber therebetween;  
       a liquid heat transfer medium disposed in the tank that contacts the plurality of food products to change the temperature of the plurality of food products;  
       a helical auger disposed in the tank that is rotated to urge the plurality of food products toward the discharge;  
       a plurality of pairs of spaced apart perforate wedgewire lift buckets carried by the auger for rotation in unison therewith that pick up food products and expel them out the discharge, wherein each one of the wedgewire lift buckets comprises a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, and straight wires that define an elongate generally rectangular drainage slot between each pair of adjacent wires and a plurality of pairs of spaced apart, straight, parallel and substantially rigid wire retainers that are attached to the wires.  
     
     
       18. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein each wire is substantially rigid and has a generally triangular or generally frustoconical cross-section. 
     
     
       19. A food product processing apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein each wire has an exterior food product supporting surface that is inclined at an angle of at least two degrees relative to one of the wire retainers. 
     
     
       20. A food product transport mechanism for a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       a helical auger, and  
       a plurality of spaced apart lift buckets that each have a food product-carrying platform comprised of a perforate grid structure made of wedgewire having a plurality of pairs of parallel and spaced apart wires with each wire having a generally triangular or generally frustoconical cross section and each adjacent pair of wires defining an elongate dewatering slot therebetween.  
     
     
       21. A food product transport mechanism for a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       a helical auger; and  
       a plurality of spaced apart lift buckets that each have a food product-carrying platform comprised of a perforate grid structure wherein the grid structure comprises a wedgewire section having a plurality of pairs of engaged wires that define drainage perforations therebetween and where the wedgewire section of each one of the plurality of lift buckets is comprised of a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and parallel wires carried by a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and parallel wire clips with the wires spaced apart so as to define a dewatering slot between each pair of adjacent wires.  
     
     
       22. A food product transport mechanism according to  claim 21  wherein each wire of each one of the plurality of lift buckets has a generally triangular or generally frustoconical cross section with a generally flat outer food product carrying surface. 
     
     
       23. A food product transport mechanism according to  claim 22  wherein each wire has a notch and each wire clip has a knife edge that is received in the notch with the knife edge underlying a food product resting on the food product carrying surface of a plurality of the wires. 
     
     
       24. A food product transport mechanism for a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       a helical auger; and  
       a lift bucket that has a food product carrying perforate platform comprised of wedgewire and a perforate ramp comprised of wedgewire that extends from the platform and is disposed at an angle relative to the platform; and  
       wherein the wedgewire of the food product carrying platform and of the perforate ramp is comprised of a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and parallel wires that are attached to a plurality of spaced apart wire retainers disposed generally transverse to the wires; and  
       wherein each pair of adjacent wires of the plurality of pairs of wires defines an elongate dewatering slot therebetween; and  
       wherein each one of the plurality of pairs of wires has a generally triangular or generally frustoconical cross section.  
     
     
       25. A perforate lift bucket for a food product transport mechanism of a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of spaced apart and substantially rigid slats that support a food product thereon, with the plurality of substantially rigid slats defining a drainage perforation between each pair of adjacent slats; and  
       a plurality of spaced apart tie beams that engage the slats to retain the slats in place.  
     
     
       26. A perforate lift bucket according to  claim 25  wherein each tie beam has an engagement head that engages a portion of each one of the plurality of wires. 
     
     
       27. A perforate lift bucket according to  claim 26  wherein each slat has a generally triangular or generally frustoconical cross section with a flat food product carrying surface and an edge spaced therefrom with a notch therein for receiving a portion of the engagement head of one of the plurality of tie beams. 
     
     
       28. A perforate lift bucket for a food product transport mechanism of a food product processing apparatus comprising a section of perforate wedgewire having a non-uniform and non-circular cross-section with a bend therein defining a perforate food product carrying platform and a perforate ramp. 
     
     
       29. A perforate lift bucket for a food product transport mechanism of a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and parallel wires that each have a generally triangular or generally frustoconical cross section and a generally flat food product carrying surface with each pair of adjacent wires defining an elongate and generally rectangular drainage slot therebetween that has a narrow throat disposed adjacent the food product carrying surface and an expanded drainage chamber; and  
       a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and parallel wire retainers to which the plurality of pairs of wires are attached with each one of the wire retainers having a knife edge disposed toward each one of the plurality of pairs of wires.  
     
     
       30. A perforate lift bucket according to  claim 29  wherein each one of the plurality of pairs of wires has a base in contact with the plurality of pairs of wire retainers and the food product carrying surface of each wire is wider than the base of the wire and each wire further comprises a pair of sidewalls that taper toward each other adjacent the base. 
     
     
       31. A lift bucket attached to a rotatable auger of a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and parallel food product carrying wires that each have a generally flat food product carrying surface with each pair of adjacent wires defining an elongate drainage slot therebetween having a width where it is narrowest of at least 0.03 inches; and  
       a plurality of pairs of spaced apart and parallel support wires that underlie the plurality of pairs of food product carrying wires with the support wires disposed generally perpendicularly relative to the plurality of pairs of food product carrying wires and joined by a weld to each one of the plurality of pairs of food product carrying wires.  
     
     
       32. A method of processing a plurality of food products in a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       (a) providing a tank having an inlet and a discharge; a liquid heat transfer medium disposed in the tank; a helical auger disposed in the tank; and a plurality of lift buckets comprised of perforate wedgewire disposed adjacent the discharge, the wedgewire having a non-uniform and non-circular cross-section;  
       (b) introducing a plurality of food products into the tank through the inlet;  
       (c) rotating the auger at a rotational speed of at least five RPM; and  
       (d) expelling the food products out the discharge using one of the wedgewire lift buckets.  
     
     
       33. A method of processing a plurality of food products according to  claim 32  wherein the wedgewire lift buckets rotate in unison with the auger. 
     
     
       34. A method of processing a plurality of food products in a food product processing apparatus comprising: 
       (a) providing a tank having an inlet and a discharge; a liquid heat transfer medium disposed in the tank; a helical auger disposed in the tank; and a plurality of perforate lift buckets disposed adjacent the discharge that each are comprised of wedgewire made of a plurality of pairs of straight and parallel wires attached to a plurality of generally transverse wire clips and that each have a perforated open area of at least 24%;  
       (b) introducing a plurality of food products into the tank through the inlet;  
       (c) rotating the auger at a rotational speed of at least five RPM; and  
       (d) expelling food products out the discharge using each one of the perforate lift buckets.  
     
     
       35. A method of processing a plurality of food products according to  claim 34  wherein the auger and the lift buckets both move at the same time.